Winning wasn’t just an option for the New York Lizards and Connecticut Hammerheads, it was a necessity for having any chance qualifying for the MLL Postseason. Only one team could exit Wednesday afternoon’s contest with its first victory of the season. The other would leave as the first eliminated from playoff contention.
New York kept running into a brick wall in-between the pipes– Hammerheads goalkeeper Sean Sconone. The goaltender played outstanding defense by saving 15 of the New York team’s 23 shots on goal. The 2019 MLL All-Star also kickstarted Connecticut’s transition offense and left New York burnt.
The Lizards (0-4) fell to the Hammerheads (1-2), 10-8, ending their postseason aspirations. It was the first win in team history for Connecticut, an expansion team that join the league this season.
New York failed at leading the game past the second quarter, despite controlling the ball for most of it. The team fired 44 shots and outscooped its opponent 46-42 on the ground.
Decker Curran opened the afternoon’s scoring with 4:55 remaining in the first quarter. Connecticut attackman Michael Kraus tied the game less than one minute later, but Sean O‘Brien put New York up 2-1 by the end of the first.
But, Sconone’s defense caught up to New York in the second quarter. Attackman Ben Martin tied the contest at two, just 50 seconds into the second. After Voigt’s score put Connecticut ahead, midfielder Brendan Collins extended its lead to 4-2 before halftime.
The Lizards battled another rain delay, although this one only lasted one hour. They capitalized off it with consecutive goals and tied the game at four.
But, the Hammerheads surged ahead with the lead through strong teamwork. Attackman Will Sands gave Connecticut the lead for good off the assist by midfielder Cody Radziewicz. That sparked an unanswered three-goal run for that gave the Hammerheads the 8-5 lead after.
All three goals were all scored off assists. Seven of the Hammerheads’ ten goals scored were assisted.
O’Brien became the offensive quarterback for New York opening up the fourth quarter. First, he cut the deficit to two goals by ripping a long-distance shot past Sconone. Then, he dished the ball to Andrew Pettit for the score and made it an 8-7 game. O’Brien finished the day leading the game with five points and the Lizards with a hat trick.
But, Voigt secured the lead for Connecticut by blasting a shot past Austin Kaut for the 9-7 lead with eight minutes remaining. The attackman led the contest with four goals on the day.
Sands added on to the advantage with a score one minute later. Nick Aponte found the back of the net for New York with 2:46 remaining, but it was not enough.
Mark Andrejack led the contest scooping seven groundballs. and went 8-19 at the X. Ben Randall led the team with four caused turnovers.
The Lizards will wrap up their 2020 MLL season against the Philadelphia Barrage (1-3). The Barrage dropped their last game to the Boston Cannons, 12-10. Every game this season will take place at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
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